End-thrust bearing



Feb. 14, 1928.

L. HOLLAND-LETZ END THRUST BEARING 6 Original Filed April 10, 1924 65 63 61 2 9 gai 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 14, 1928. 1,659,265

' L. HOLLAND-LETZ END THRUST BEARING Original Filed April 10 1924 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

LUDWIG HOLLAND-LETZ, OF CROWN POINT, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LETZ MANU;

FAC TURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION.OF INDIANA.

END-THRUST BEARING.

Application filed April 10, 1924, Serial No. 705,417. Renewed November 23, 1927.

This invention relates to an endthrust bearing.

One of the objects of the present mvention is to provide an improved and simplified form of an end thrust bearing.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel forms of ball bearing wearing plates which are adapted to move with respect to the shaft in such a manner that the bearing ball wears on a wide area or the bearing plates. 1

A still further object of the invention is to provide anovel form of support for the end thrust bearing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of an end thrust bearing in such a manner that the wearing parts thereof are arranged so that the wearing surfaces over which the bearing balls travel are increased to a maximum and thereby extending the life of the same and eliminating the necessity of substituting repair parts unnecessarily.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved form of end thrust bearing showing the same embodied in a feed mill. 2

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the lines 3-3 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View taken on the lines 4e4; in Fig. 3. i

For the purpose of illustration I have shown my improved end thrust bearing in connection with a feed grinder or mill, but it will be readily understood that the same is adapted for use in connection with various other types of machines. V

In carrying out my invention I have shown the same in connection with a feed mill which comprises a driven shaft 10 having secured thereto adjacent the hopper ll of the feed mill a spiral teed member 12. Secured to the shaft lO adjacent the spiral member 12 by means ot'a pin 13 is the usual rotating bulir holder 14.- Secured to the buhr holder 14 by means of bolts 15 is the usual rotating buhr 16. Secured to the frame of the feed millin a manner well known is the stationary buhr casing 17,

which is substantially cylindrical in form and provided with a downwardly extending chute. 18 at the lower end theroi. This casing 17 is provided with a central opening as shown at 19 through which the spiral teed member 1:. 'and sha'tt 10 extend. Mounted in the stationary buhr casing 17 is a selfaligning plate holder which consists of a ring 20 whichis swivelly mounted by means of outwardly projecting lugs seated in sockets formed in the casing (not shown) Pivotally mounted by means of vertical pins 21 is a stationary buhr holder plate 22. Se-

cured to the buhr holder plate 22 by means of bolts is a relatively stationary buhr 23. By this construction it will be understood that the stationary huhr is permitted to rock upon hdrizontal and vertical axes in properly aligning itseli with the rotating buhr 16 carried by the rotating buhr holder 1%. The construction thus far described per se does not form any part of the present invention and forthis reason it is thought a more .detailed description of thesame is unnecessary.

One of the improved features of my invention is the provision of a novel tormoi bracket 24, which is adjustably secured to the buhr casing 25 by means of a ball and socket connection as shown at 26 by a bolt 27. The buhr casing 25 is positioned and arranged to mesh with the stationary buhr casing 17 to completely encase the grinding buhrs of the mill. The bracket 24 is provided with two spaced apart bearing portion 28 and 29 which are connected together by means of a depressed connecting portion 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The bearing portion 29 of the bracket 2 1 is arranged to extend through an aperture 31 in the casing 25. The aperture 31 isrelatively larger than the diameter of the bearing portion 29 so as to permit the adjustment of the bracket on its ball and socket connection withthe casing 25 in properly aligningthe bearing portions 28 and 29 with the shaft 10.' The bearing portion 29 is provided with the usual soft metal bearing bushing31 and grease cup 32. Mounted in the bearing portion 28 of the bracket 24 is an end thrust member 33 which has formed integrally therewith a sleeve portion 34 which forms a bushing for the outer end of the shaft 10 lositiojued between the end of the shaft and the end thrust member $33 is my improved thrust hearing which comprises two bearing members 35 and 36 and a bearing ball 37. These members 35 and 36 are in the form of discs which are of relatively smaller diameter than the diameter of the shaft and by reasonof their diameter are.

permitted to float or move laterally with respect to the shaft when the shaft is operatively driven. Positioned between the discs or hearing members and 36 is a bearing ball of relatively smaller diameter than the diameter of the shaft, but at the same time is of a diameter that is relatively larger than one half the diameter of the shaft. By this construction it will readily be seen that as the shaft 10 is driven at a relatively high rate of speed by reason of the lateral or floating movement of the bearing members or discs 35 and 36 and by reason of the free and lateral movement of the bearing ball 3?, the bearing ball is permitted to wear on the bearing members 35 and 36 over a wide area or surface of these bearing members and thereby permitting the bearing ball 37 to Wear a wide race-way in each of these hearing members. This construction and arrangment will lengthen the life of these bearing members or discs and will eliminate the necessity of constantly repairing these parts. These bearing discs 35 and 36 are of relatively very hard material ground perfectly true with parallel sides so as to permit them to creep freely as the shaft rotates. The discs are reversible so that when one 0i. their sides become worn the other side may be used.

\Vhile I have shown the end thrust memher 33 having a sleeve portion. 34; formed integrally therewith, it will of course, be understood that these parts may be easily made of separate members and will function equally as well. The bearin portion 28 of the Market 24 is provided with a threaded aperture :38 on the top side thereof, which registers with an apertrue 39 in the sleeve portion 34, of the end thrust member $33 for supplying a lubricant to the end thrust bearing by a cup 40 seemed in the threaded aperlure 38.01": the hearing portion 28. The end thrust member 33 is retained in the bearing portion 28 of the bracket 24. by means of a yoke or U-shaped member 41 which has a horizontally extending rib 42 seated in a recess 43 formed in the outer end of the end thrust member 33, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The U-shaped member 41 is provided with outwardly extending arms 44. and 45, which, in turn are provided with bosses 46 and 47, respectively; The arms 44 and 45 are reinforced or strengthened by a curved cross bar a8, which is formed integrally with the ll-shaped member 41. The bosses 4A5 and ii? are provided with longitudinally extending bores 49 and 50, which are adapted to receive studs 51 and 52, respectively. These studs 5i and 52 have their inner ends secured to the frame of the machine and exteiul through bosses and 5% formed integrally with the stationary buhr casing 17 and huhr casing 25, respectively. Nuts 55 are provided for securely su iporting the buhr casing to the "Frame oi the machine. The arm eh") of the U-shuped member ll yieldingly supported against an outward thrust by a compression spring 56, which is mounted on the outer end of the stud 52 and en gages the outer side of the boss 47 ot' the arm l5 and secured in its adjusted position by a nut and washer 57. The arm -15 of the U shaped member 41 is limited in its inward movement by adjustable nut 58 and lock nut 59.

It by accident any foreign material such as a piece or steel, a net or a bolt should he rome lodged between the rotating grinding huhrs and it. becomes necessary to separate the buhrs in order to remove such foreign material, I have provided an arrangement whereby the end thrust member may be readily moved outwardly in a direction longitudinally ot the axis of the shaft ll] by providing a hand operating crank 60 harirrr cam portions 61 formed integrally therewith. which are adapted to engage correspolulinn cam portions (52 formed on the outer sidiof the stud 4-6 of the arm ie. The hand ope atingr crank is pivotally mounted on the stud 51 and is adjusted. to various posiliruis of adjustment by a hand screw (11} which is in threaded engagement with the stud ill and engages the hub 6d of the crank 6U. The hand screw 63 is locked in various positions of adjustment by a spiral hand screw 65 which is also in threaded engagement with the studfil. i

From the above description it will be noted that as the hand. operating lever (50 is swung in a direction to relieve the ram operating surfaces l5] and (E2 of the hand operating lever 60 and boss ll res 'ier-tiroll the arm lei ol the U-shaped member will swing" outwardly with respect to the mil] :1 distance equal to the depth of these cams and the arm 45 of the Ushaped member t] will rest against the nut 58 and thereby permit the end thrust member to more (udwardly with respect to the shaft, which, in turn, will permit the shaft to move outwardly in. a direction toward the end thrust member 33 and thereby separate the rotating bnhr 16 from the relatively stationary buhr Q3 and permit any foreign matter to drop from between these buhrs.

In providing an end thrust bearing where a single bearing ball travels eceentrirally llll with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and Where the shaft rotates at a rela tively high rate of speed, it will be noted that there is a tendency to vibrate the shaft in order to overcome this vibration I rare touml it necessary to provide a construction of a bearing support for the shaft in the term of the bracket that I have'shown and described in which two bearing portions are spaced apart and at the same time socured together as an integral member. By this arrangement the vibration of the shaft is reduced to a minimum because the inner bearing portion opposes the vibration caused by the outer end of the shaft and there y reduces thisvibration to a minimum. In the operation of my improved end thrust hearing, it Will be noted that as the shaft rotates, the centrifugal. force will cause the bearing ball to contact with the inner surface of the sleeve 34: and at the same time, the floating discs will creep rally, or in other "words, constantly change their. positions with respect to the axis of the shaft and to the bearing ball, thereby permitting the ball to Wear a path havii A a width equivalent to the dillerence in diameters of the bore sleeve and discs.

From the above description it- Will also be seen that by providing bearing members or discs which are adapted to float or move laterally with respect to the shaft and positioning a bearing ball, which is also adapted to float or move laterally with respect to the shaft, 1 have porvided a construction in which the Wearing parts or surfaces have been increased to a maximum and thereby lengthening the life of these parts and reducing the necessity of frequently replacing these parts by new ones.

lVhile l have illustrated, shown and described bearing members or discs and a bearing, ball of relatively smaller diameter of the shaft, it will, of course, be understood that construction can be provided in which the diameter of these bearing plates and bearing ball may be of relatively larger diameter than the shalt by enlarging that portion of the bearing in which these parts operate and still accoi'nplish the s me result that I have accomplished by the construction I have illustrated.

it is therefore Within the contemplation ol my invention to cover this form and other moa'lilications which may be readily apparent. i

"il hat l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A thrust bearing for a shaft comprisin g a bearing in which said shaft is mounted.v an end thrust member, a bearing ball, and laterally movable bearing members p'ositioned between said ball and the end oi said shaft and between said ball and the end thrust member.

and laterally movable bearing members and a bearing: ball carried by said ast named bearing portion and positioned between said end thrust member and one end of said shaft.

3. A thrust bearing for a shaft comprising a frame, a bracket adjnstably secured to said frame, said bracket having spaced apart bearing;- portions for supporting said shalt, an end thri't member adjustably mounted in one of said bearing; portions. and laterally movable bearing members and a bearing ball of relatively smaller diameter than said shalt carried by said last named bearing portion and positioned between said end thrust member and one end of said shalt.

ir thrust bearing tor a shaft compris i; a traine, a bracket" zuljustably secured to said. frame, said bracket havingsoaced apart bearing portions for supporting said shaft, an end thrust n'iem 'ier carried by one of said bearing portions, a bearing disc of relatively smaller diameter than said shaft and contacting with one end Oil said shall, a second bearing disc of relatively smaller diameter than said shaft and contacting with saidend thrust member, and a bearing ball of relatively smaller diameter than said shaft and positioned between said. bearing discs;

5. A thrust bearii ig for a shaft comprising bearing in which said shaft is mounted, an end thrust member, and a laterally movable bearing member and ball positioned between tlie end of said shaft and said end thrust member whereby said ball wears over a wide area on said laterally movable hear ing member.

(3.1K thrust bearing for a shaft comprisin,g a bearing in which said shaft is mounted, an end thrust member, a bearing plate mounted between the end o'l said shaft and end thrust member, abearing ball mounted between said bearing and said end thrust member, said ball. and said plate being laterally niovahle relative to each other whereby said ball travels over a constantly changing, path on said plate.

7. A thrust bearing for a. shaft comprising a bearing in which said slmctt is motuited, an end thrust meml ,r, a bearing plate mounted. between said shaft and said end thrust member and a bearing ball mounted between said beariiig' plate and the end oil said shalt, said bearing ball and said plate being laterally movable relative to each other whereby said ball. travels over a relatively wide path on said. plate.

S. A. thrust bearing for a shaft comprisa bearing in which said shaft is mounted,

and an end thrust menlben a bearing plate I contacted with the end of said shaft, :1 second hearing plate contacted with said end thrust member, and a bearing ball positioned between said bearing plates, said hearing ball and said plates being laterally movable relative to each other whereby said ball travels over a constantly changing path on said plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 1" name to this specification, on this 31st day of March A. D. 1924.

LUDVVIG HOLLAND -LE'JIZ. 

